Seal Under Investigation For Sexual Battery After Former Neighbor Claims He Groped Her

Seal is currently under criminal investigation for sexual battery by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department after one of his former neighbors came forward, claiming that he touched her inappropriately without her consent.

Actress Tracey Birdsall claims that the "Kiss From A Rose" singer kissed and groped her in his kitchen last November, TMZ reports. Birdsall says that she was visiting Seal's home to retrieve her salad spinner when he forced himself on her and attempted to kiss her. Birdsall says that when she asked what he was doing, he replied, "I'm kissing you!"

According to Birdsall, Seal then implied that she was asking for it, citing her outfit — a tank top and shorts — as proof. She says he then began groping her breasts, at which point she demanded that he stop.

Birdsall says Seal then invited her to sit on the couch next to him, and she complied out of shock. When he began groping her again, she got up and left, and says she hasn't had any contact with her former friend since that day.

Seal's camp denies Birdsall's allegations, telling TMZ in a statement, "Seal vehemently denies the recent allegations made against him by a former neighbor for alleged misconduct more than a year ago. He intends to vigorously defend himself against these false allegations."

News of the investigation concerning Seal comes just weeks after the singer encouraged sexual assault victims to continue coming forward.

[Photo: Getty Images]